Police have charged a Bedford man with five counts of murder, and he will appear in Karratha Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.

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Officers reportedly do not know how long the bodies were in the house before they were discovered.

Neighbours were reported saying they had not seen the family for a week.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel of the Metropolitan Region described the incident as a "heartbreaking tragedy".

“This is a tragic event and it will no doubt have an impact on not only on the family and friends of the deceased, but on the whole of the community, those first responders who are faced with attending a scene with deceased people," Assistant Commissioner Steel said.

Police discovered the bodies about midday.Credit:Nathan Hondros

“I can assure people that the WA Police Force are conducting a thorough and proper investigation to determine what events led to this tragic matter.

It’s just so sad, they’ve got primary school aged kids and I thought it just couldn’t be

Neighbour

“The homicide squad currently have teams of detectives on the ground, accompanied by specialist forensic police who are meticulously working their way through this crime scene," he said.

Police are expected to remain at the house for days while investigations are carried out.Credit:Phil Hickey

Forensic police officers are inspecting the property in Bedford.Credit:AAP

Assistant Commissioner Steel said police were trying to identify relatives to notify them. Police would remain at the scene for a number of days and homicide squad officers would interview the man in custody.

He did not answer the question about whether weapons were found at the scene.

Peter Miles, 61, his 58-year-old wife Cynda, their daughter Katrina, 35, and her four children - daughter Taye, 13, and sons Rylan, 12, Arye, 10, and Kadyn, eight - were found dead at their Forever Dreaming Farm in Osmington on May 11.